NIGERIAN E-PASSPORT IMPLEMENTATION REFLECTS BILATERAL TIES

KUALA LUMPUR, Jun 1 (Bernama) -- Nigerian nationals in Malaysia will enjoy
greater passport security with the implementation of the Nigerian e-passport at
the Nigerian High Commission here Monday.

Nigerian High Commissioner to Malaysia Peter J. E. Anegbeh said the
e-passport
signified the fruits of excellent bilateral relations between Nigeria and
Malaysia.

He said it was a testament of how far the two countries had gone in forging
collaborative efforts.

The Nigerian e-passport system was developed by Malaysian company Iris
Corporation Berhad and was similar to the e-passport which was first introduced
to the world by Malaysia.

"Iris Corporation and a host of other Malaysian companies have taken the
bold step by heeding to my persistent call that the investment climate in
Nigeria is friendly with vast potentials yet untapped.

"Malaysian investors could partner with their counterparts in Nigeria for
mutual benefit of the people of our two countries," Anegbeh told a press
conference Monday.

Nigeria's e-passport system is compatible with the International Civil
Aviation Organisation's (ICAO) requirements and each passport contains a chip
capable of storing bio-metric information, further ensuring difficulties to
forge an individual's personal travel documents.

Anegbeh reiterated that Nigeria's High Commission in Malaysia was the
sixth out of 115 diplomatic missions to be updated with the system.

Currently, there are about 100 Nigerian professionals working in Malaysia
within the oil and gas industries, as well as lecturing in the renowned
International Islamic University Malaysia, with many more students in various
institutes of learning.

Nigerian Immigration Comptroller General Chief Chukwurah Joseph Udeh said,
with the implementation and upgrade of the system in the diplomatic mission in
Kuala Lumpur, Nigerian citizens throughout the Asean region needed to come to
Malaysia to replace their old passports.

-- BERNAMA